Improved beige-machine



@einen tetes gateitt @Hita JAMES SANGSTER AND DAVID P. DOBBINS, BUFFALQ'NEW YORK, AND JOHN S. RICHARDS, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 73,201, dated January v7, 1868.

IMPROVED BRICK-MACHINE.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that we, JAMES SANGSTER, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, and JOHN S. RICHARDS, of Erie, in the county of Erie, and State of Pennsylvania, and DAViDP. DOIBINS, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and on Machines for Pressing Brick or other forms or materials; and we do hereby declare that the following description is suiliciently clear and exact to enable any one skilled in the art or science to `which it appertains to make, construct, and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification or description, in which like letters represent like parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 represents a side lelevation, showing the general arrangement of our improved machine.

Figure 2 is a front view of: the same. l

Y Figure 3 represents a vertical longitudinal section through the mould-boxes.

Figure 4 represents a-lsnncklc er sockel',- joint,or, device., for giving motion tothe lower. 'p ressiugwpiltolls or platens.

Figure 5 represents a view of the ends of the pistons.

The nature ofrour invention relates to machinery for pressing or re-pressing brick, or other purposes, from cr of condensible material or materials, and consists in l First, au. arrangement and combination of devices for giving to the lower pistons or platens two upward motions; the first and upward motion far enough to enable the lower piston or pistons to perform their part in condensing the material or materials to the density, size, or form desired; the second motion upward, a motion which causes the material or materials to be lifted up out of the mould after being compressed or condensed to the size or form desired, said devices consisting of a projection or projections on the main shaft, so formed and constructed as to t and work in a hollow or concave joint, which is jointed or otherwise fastened to the lower piston or pistons; the said projection or projections, and said concave joint or joints being so arranged that they meet and work together-at the time the lower pistons or platens are doing their part of the pressing or condensing of the material or materials, and part again, after performing said condensing or compressing, in

time to allow a cam or set of cams to lift the material or materials thus condensed up out of the moulds into a position to be pushed or otherwise placed on a table or other suitable device to receive them, the object being to avoid the necessity of a cam or cams with surfaces to work against the rounded surface of a friction-roller, or :my equivalent device, at the time the condensing pressure is being given to the material. Such devices,

where buta merc point or but a small portion of their surfaces come together, while the enormous pressure,

required is being given, cannot be successfully used for any great length of time in the manufacture of brick, the small extent of the surfaces in contact being insufficient to resist for any reasonable length of time the extraordinary pressure required. By means of our invention, at the time the condensing or repressing press= ure is applied, the rounded or convex surface of one part or parts is in contact with the concave or hollow Isurfaces of thctother part or parts, so that the extent of the surfaces together are sufficient to resist the press-- ure'requirel.

Second, our invention further consists in the arrangement of cams on the main wheels, formed of segments of circles, and so arranged as to give to thc mould-charger such motions as will allow it to remain stationary for a suicient length of time to be filled with material or materials to be pressed, and then move such material or materials over'the mould or moulds, and remain stationary long enough for the moulds to receive such mate= rial or materials.

Third, in an arrangement or device for adjusting the size or capacity of the mould-boxes, so that material` or materials of dierent degrees of compressibility may be used, the same consisting of set-screws so arranged that the height of the lowestl resting-point of the lower pistons may he regulated or adjusted so as to suit the material to be pressed, and to allcw said material or materials to be pressed to different degrees of density. Of course it will be readily seen that if the said resting-points of the said pistons be lowered, more room would be left in the mould-boxes for the reception of the material or materials to be pressed,rand if the said resting-points be raised, less room will be left for the same purpose.

Fourth, in arranging the delivering-table or mould-.boxes so as to be capable of a vertical adjustment, so as to compensate for the wearing away of the lower piston or pistons, or of any of the working partsl thereof, the object being to so construct and arrange said table-pistons and mould-boxes that the same may at any time be adjusted, so that the brick or other forms may always be raised high enough to allow of being pushed or otherwise taken off from the top of the pistons or pla-tens which raise or lift them without beingrubbed against the edge of the table or mould-boxes, thereby avoiding the breaking of the lower edges'or sides of said bricks or other forms.

Fifthso arranging and constructing the mould-boxes, and the pistons or platens, that the corners or edges of the brick will be rounded, bevclledLslightly flattened, or otherwise rendered smooth enough to be handled. Sharp corners or edges are serious objections, as brick, or forms with such corners or edges, require more care in handling. The rounded or bevelled corners or edges are not so liable to cut or otherwise hurt the hands while handling, and are not so easily broken. The device consists in a rim or rims projecting downward from the lower edges surrounding the upper piston or pistons, and made ofthe proper shape to give the desired form to the material under pressure, said rim or rims being made either adjustable or firmly fastened to said piston or pistons; also in placing similar rim or rims either on the face of the lower piston or pistons, around the edges of the same, and so as to project upwards, beyond or from the faces or edges of the same, or fr om part or all of the edges of the same, in any shape or form it may be desired to press the material by the lower pistons, or said projecting rim orrims may be made stationary, or fastened on the inside of the mould'box or boxes, at or near the point where the lower edges or corners of the brick or forms may be when receiving the final pressure; said rim being so arranged within said mould-boxes that the piston or pistons vpass through it while lifting the brick or form up out of the mould or moulds.

Sixth, in providing a lost motion, or the equivalent' thereof, in the connecting-rods or other parts` of the machine that move the piston or pistons, so that the brick or form is instantly released from the compressing or condensing pressure before it is moved upward out of the mould by the lower piston, which, in its action in lifting the brick or form up out of' the mould, also bears the full weight of the upper piston or pistons and crosshead, as it rests ou the surface of the condensed material, up to the point where the lost motion is taken up and the connecting-rods begin to operate, thus lifting the pressing ends of piston or pistons, together with the brick or other form, up out of said mould,l thereby affording an opportunity and time for the .brick or form tc expand upward while inthe mould, before being uncovered, and thus preventing the cracking or tearing of the surface of the brick by the sharp edges-of the mould as it is forced out into the air, which is sure to occur where such expansion has not been previously provided for; the perforated pistons remaining in contact with the material or materials condensed after the condensing-mechanism of the machine has ceased to condense or otherwise act upon the same, which is at or near the time just before the brick is being lifted upwards out'ot the mould; the contact of said piston or pistons with said condensed material being continued long enough to allow the air to escape through the porous parts, just opposite the perforations in said piston or pistons, the

object being to give the air suiiicient time to escape before any part of the same is uncovered or out of the mould, and thus prevent an unequal expansion, orvthe cracking of the samein any direction or in any parta very important desideratum in the manufacture of brick. It will be readily seen that if any of the sides of the brick are uncovered while the condensing-mechanism is acting or holding it rigidly at the final pressurepoint or points, the side or sides, as they are thus uncovered to the air, will he forced to bulge outward by the expansion of the compressed air within, and thus left rounding on the face, and making them liable to crack 0n the surface in passing the sharp edges of the mould, and to disturb or separate the particles of the clay or material around and in or near the weakest parts of the sides which may be thus exposed, as the air which is compressed with all the power of the machine, and confined within the brick or form, will seek and pass through the easiest points of egress, and separate the particles, (if not enclosed as aforementioned,) and these points of egress are the sides of the brick or form which are exposed before the air has time to wholly escape out through the perforatons in said perforated piston or pistons, thereby leaving the same in a weakened condition, and liable to crack or separate more while baking, and sometimes even while drying, and very'oi'ten leaving them in a condition to be separated through the sides which have been thus exposed, and to be easily pulled apart by the hands. I

Our invention further consists in the employment of a second pressure upon the brick, which comes into action after the compressing-mechanism has commenced its return motions, (which of course are the motions in opposition to those of pressing or condensing,) but this second pressure. is in nowise so great as'the condensing force or pressure, and further diifers from it by commencing to act just after the brick is in motion, or at the time the under piston or pistons commenced to lift it up towards the top of the mould-boxes. The said second pressure is produced by the arrangement of the lost motion above mentioned, the parts being constructed and arranged s o that the weight of the upper piston or pistons acts on the condensed brick or form, and gives the second pressure mentioned. It is continued as long as is necessary to allow the expanding air within the condensed andmoving brick to escape through the said perforated piston or pistons, and may or may not be so arranged as to ccntinueprcssing upon said brick or form duringall the time it may be moving out ofthe mould, and can be regulated to give the necessary pressure required, and no more, by adjusting the weight 'of the pistonl or pistons and cross-head.

Seventh, our invention further consists in an arrangement or device for pushing out the surplus material or materials which are left in the perforations after the condensing pressure is finished, consisting of pins made to fit into the holes in thenpper piston or pistons, which pins are kept up'in-place by means of a spring or other equivalent device, and are made to move downward and `force outisaid surplus material in time to drop into the charger, by the upwardrmotion of the said piston or pistons.

Eighth, in thecombination of perforated -piston or pistonswhere the lower-.piston 0r pistons are made with larger perfor-ations than the upper ones, so as to compensate for the difference in the density of the material or materials in the upper and lower parts of the mould; that at the bottom of the mould, being before pressure more dense than that at the top of the same, andthercfore requiring in the lower piston or pistons larger perforations, so as to leave more of an opening for the escapeof aiu and surplus clay.

We arrange our machinesso that several maybe connected together by shafts, cross-heads, or leverbeams, to form one, where large machines are required, thus saving power, as, when one machine is pressing, another may be delivering brick or forms.

In said drawing, A represents the frame or' the machine. Itis made of two upright sides, and is bolted together by the binding-rodsBand C. D represents the delivering-table. IIt is made adjust-able, as hereinbefore mentioned, by the screws E, or the equivalent thereof, and is fastened to the lugs or projecting-pieces F. G represents the lower pistons'. They move vertically-np and down between the slides H H, which keep the lower parts in place, the upper parts or faces of said pistons being kept in position by the mould-boxes, into which they it nicely, and are made to move. I represents the upper piston or pistons. It has a motion vertically up and down, ofabout ten inches, only part of which motion is used for the compression of the material, say about two and a quarter inches, and that when the crank or cranks J are near their lowest centre, by which means the greatest possible power, consistent with the rapidity of the motion, is obtained. The connecting-rod K connccts with the upper piston by means of the pin L, as shown in figs. 1 and 2, and to the main wheels M by means of the crank-pin J. N represents the pinion by which the main wheels receive their motion. O represents thcvdriving-shaft for said pinion. The lower piston or pistons receive their motions by means of the main shaftllithe lug or projection Q, and the cams R, the lug or projection Q giving the first or condensing motion,

, and thc cams R giving the second or lifting motion. S represents the mould-charger. It is arranged to move between two grooved slides, and receives its motions by means of the arm or lever T, the cams 'l 2, friction-roller U, and connection V. The lug or projection Q is arranged so thatuit may be taken off and exchanged for another, when worn so as to be until; for use. It is fastened to the shaft P by means of screws, or the equivalent thereof. W represents thc` lost motion hereinbefore mentioned. It is obtained by making the hole through which the pin or pins L pass of an oval form, or nearly so, the lost motion being in proportion to the length of the said hole or holes. The arrangement is such thatthe cams It, in lifting the brick up out of the mould, lift also thc upperrpiston or pistons l, together with the cross-head, as the brickis pushed up against it, and so continues to lift it until the lower part of the hole or holes at W comes in contact with the pin or pinsL, and lifts said piston or pistons up off of the brick or form pressed, in time for the charger Sto push it oli` on the deliverytable, substantially as hereinbcfore mentioned in clause sixth and other parts of this description and specification. X represents the apparatus for pressing out the surplus clay from the perforations in the pistons, as hercinbefore mentioned. It is kept up by the spring Y, and is pressed down by the upward motion of the upper pistons, which bring the parts Z up against the crosspiece A. And if the spring Y should, from any cause, cease to act, the downward motion of said pistons, by bringing the parts B down upon the delivery-table would accomplish the same result of lifting up the device X X. C2 represents the set-screws for regulating the height of the lower piston or pistons, as and for purposes hereinbefore mentioned. The letters F2, in g. 3, represent l the parts of the mould or moulds which form the bevelled edge on the lower parts of the brick, and G', in iig. 5, the rims which project downward from the upper piston or pistons, as and for purposes mentioned in clause fifth of this specification or description.

Ihe operation of the machine is as follows: The upper piston or pistons are shown at their highest points of motion, and the lower piston or pistons at their highest points of 'inotion also. The charger S has advanced forward to deposit its material or materials into the mould or moulds, as the lower piston or pistons descend, in a position to be compressed. The main wheel or wheels being made to move in the direction ofthe arrow, bring the upper piston or pistons downward, the cam or cams R allowing the lower piston or pistons to fall or descend, and at the same time the material er materials to be compressed descend with it into the mould-box or boxes to c pressed, rc-pressed, or condensed. The said motion of wheel or wheels M being still continued, cam No. 2 operates against the friction-roller U, and moves the arm l, connection V, and the charger S, back to its starting-point, where it is in a position to receive another charge of material or materials, either from a hopper adjusted above it in the usual form, or by hand. The motion of said wheel being still continued, brings the projection Q on the shaft P in the position to engage or fit into the hollow or lower part of the connection D2, and, in conjunction with the upper piston or pistons, commences giving the condensing pressure to the material or materials enclosed in the moulds, the lower piston or pistons moving a little slower than the upper piston or pistons, said motion being continued until the projection Q is at its highest point, and the upper pistons are at their lowest points, completes the pressure to the material. As the said motion of the wheels M still continues, the compressing-devices commenceto recede from each other, thus taking away entirely the condensing pressure, and the cam R, by engaging or moving against the friction-roller D3 at 0r about the same time begins to lift the now condensed material up ont of the mould or moulds, the brick or material condensed at the same time lifting up the upper pistons until the lost motion in the upper part of thc connections K is taken up as and for purposes hereinbefore mentioned in clause sixth of this specification or description.

Having thus described the construction and operation of our invention or improvements with suilicient clearncss and exactness to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same,

What We Glaim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the lugr or projection Q and the movable jointed connection D2, or its equivalent, when constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes herein described and sot forth.

2. We claim the projecting pieces or rims marked FZ, within the moulds, in combination with the rims G', or any equivalent thereto, ou the upper perforated piston or pistons I, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and set forth.

3. The combiuationoof the mechanism X X, spring Y, and cross-bar A', with the vertically-moving perforated pistons, substantially as and for the purposes described. Y

4. The combination of the vertically-moving perforated pistons I, when the perforations in the lower pistons Gr are made larger than those in the upper pistons, for purposes substantially as herein described.

5. We claim the combination ofthe upper and lower perforated pistons with the cams R and friction-roller D3, or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shown.

JAMES SANGrSTER7V JOHN S. RICHARDS, Witnesses: D. P. DOBBINS.

WILLIAM THURSTONE, Y G. F. MIATT. 

